Measuring device for containers



April 3, 1928.

C. O. LUNDHOLM MEASURING DEVICE FOR CONTAINERS Filed Feb. 5, 192'?gmnwtoo 9 6', 0. Landfiaim.

' being adapted to I Patented Apr. 3,1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CARL 0. LUNDHOIlM, 0F MOIESE, MONTANA.

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Application filed February 3, 1927. Serial No. 165,745.

This invention has for to provide a container for ranular or powderedmaterials which she embody novel, simple and inex ensive meansthroughthe medium ofwhic its contents may be discharged in measured quantities,the means be adjusted to permit the entire contents of the container tobe discharged in one operation if desired.

one of its objects With the foregoing and other objects in Th view, thenature of which will become apparent as the description proceeds, the 111- vention consists of the construction, combination and arrangement'ofparts hereinafter fully described and claimed, and illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a sectional view taken on a plane extending vertically andcentrally through a container embodying 'the invention,

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the plane indicated bythe line 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 with the container in inverted ordischarging position,

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 1 illustrating a slightly modifiedform of the invention,

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the plane indicated by the line 55of Figure 4 Figures 6 and are similar views illus-' trating furthermodified forms of the invention, and

Figure 8 is a top plan view of a fragmentary portion of the container asshown in Figures 1 to 3 with the valve plate re moved, illustrating theformation of the discharge opening of the container, and

Figure 9 is an elevational view of a fragmentary portion of the valveplate as shown in Figures 1 to 3 illustrating the manner in which it isgraduated.

Referring in detail to the drawing, in the several views of which likereference characters denote like parts, 1 designates the 11 whichconstitutes a through which the contents is discharged in measuredquantities. A fiatpartition 5 is arranged vertically within thecontainer, and extends from the top 2 to the bottom 3 with its upperedge in alinement with the straight wall of the discharge opening 4 andwith its side ed es in contact with the inner surface of the side, 1. epartition 5, which may be made of any su table material and is securedin place in any suitable manner, separates the container into acomparatively large supply compartment and a comparatively smallmeasuring and dispensing compartment 7. The partition 5 is providedadjacent its upper end with an opening 8 and at its lower end with anopening 9.

A flat valve plate 10 is slidably mounted in the measuring anddispensing compartment 7 by having its side edges positioned in thecorners of said compartment. The valve plate 10, which in length isequal to the depth of the container and the width of which is slightlyless than the corresponding dimension of the partition 5, is held infull abutting contact with the partition by reason of the engagement ofits side edges in the corners of the measuring and dispensingcompartment 7. The upper end of the valve plate 10 is provided with anextension closure for the discharge opening 4 and a finger piece bymeans of which said plate may be raised into opened position or loweredinto closed position. When in closed position, the valve plate 10 cutsofl all communication between the supply compartmentfi and the measuringand dispensing compartment 7, andwhen in opened position, it uncoversthe opening 9 to permit a quantity of the contents of the supplycompartment to flow into the measuring and dispensing compartment. Whenthe valve plate 10 is in closed position, the angular end 11 thereof isin'position to close the discharge opening 4. If desired the partitionand valve plate may be of arcuate formation as shown at 5 and 10 inFigure 6 or of angular formation as shown at 5 and 10 in Figure 7.Furthermore, the partition may be made shorter than the depth pf thecontainer and arranged therein with its ends spaced from the top andbottom 3 in order to provide the openings 8 and 9.

the purpose of dispensing predetermined salt,and

quantities of ground coflee, sugar,

When it is desired to remove a the like.

' quantity of the Contents of the container, the valve plate is firstraised to uncover .greater amount more or less of the opening 9, Withthe result that thequantity of the contents will flow through saidopening from the supply compartment 6 into the measuring and dis pensingcompartment 7. The container is then inverted to permit the measuredquantity of the contents to flow out through the discharge opening 4:.The extent to which the opening 9 is uncovered determines the amount ofthe contents of the container that will flow out of the dischargeopening 4 when the container is inverted, and to per mit the amount tobe accurately gaged the valve plate 10 is graduated as shown'at 12.

In practice, the supply compartment 6 is not completely filled, in orderto prevent the contents from ment into the measuring and dispensingcompartment 7 by way of the opening 9 when the container is inverted todischarge the measured quantity therefrom. If it is desired to removethe entire contents of the container, or if it is desired to remove athan can be measured and removed in one operation, the valve plate 10 iswithdrawn from the measurmg and dispensing compartment 7, and thereafterthe container 1s inverted to permit its entire contents or as much asdesired to flow out through the openings 4 and 8.

The modified form of the invention shown in Figure 4, difiers butslightly from the invention shown in Figures 1-3. In this form of. theinvention, the measuring and dispensing compartment 7 is located outsideof the container, and is provided by securing the edges oi an arcuatestrip 5 to the side 1*. The lower end of the measuring and dispensingcompartment 7' is closed, and the upper end thereof is open to pro isform of. the invention, the entire container consti tutes the supplycompartment, and commu-' nication between the lower ends of the supplycompartment and the measuring and dispensing compartment 7" isestablished by means of an opening 9' 1. Communication between the up orends of the compartments is establishe by an o ening 8" formed in theside 1". The valve p ate 10 is arcuate, its side edges are positioned inthe corners of the measuring and dispensing compartment 7, and itcontacts with that portion of the side 1 that constitutes one ,wall ofthis compartment. The

valve plate 10 is provided at its upper end comprising formed in thesidewith a combined closure and finger piece, and

'is also graduated in asimilar manner as 1. A device of the characterset forth,

comprisin a container, a partition separatlng the container into asupply compartment and a measuring and dispensing compartment, thelatter being open at its upper end,

the partition being provided at its lower end with an opening, a valveplate slidably mounted in the measuring and dis ensing compartment andcontacting with sai part1- tion for covering and uncovering the openingtherein, and a closure for the upper end of the measuring and dispensingcompartment and carried by the valve plate. flowing from said compart 2.A device of the character set forth, comprising a container having a suply compartment and a measuring and compartment, the measuring anddispensing compartment having .a discharge opening, the wall between thecompartments being provided with upper and lower openings, and a valvelate slidably and removably mounted in t e measuring and dispensincompartment and contacting with said wal for covering and uncovering theopenings therein.

3. A device of the character-set ,forth,

a cylindrical container, 9. partition extending from the top to thebottom of the container and having its side edges secured to thecylindrical wall of the container, the partition being provided adjacentits upper end with an opening and at its lower end with an opening, thepartition separating the container into a compare tively large supplycompartment and a comparatively small measuring and dispensingcompartment and the openings in the par= Y arlid carried by the upperend of the valve p ate.

4. A device of the character set forth,

comprising a container having a supply compartment and a measuring anddispensing compartment, said compartments communieating at their upperand lower ends, and a valve plate slidably mounted in the measuring anddispensing compartment for establishing and cutting off communicationbe- 5 tween said compartment and the supply compartment.

v5. A device ofthe character set forth, comprising a container having asupply compartment and a measuring and dispensing l0 compartmentcommunicating at the lower end of the container, the container beingprovided in its top wall with a discharge opening for the measuring anddispensing compartment, and a valve plate slidably mounted in themeasuring and dispensing compartment for cutting off and establishingcommunication between this ,compartment and the supply compartment.

In testimony whereof Iaffix my signature.

CARL U. LUNDHOLM.

